Sentence appealed

The Crown has appealed the ninemonth home detention sentence handed to 18-year-old Jayden Meyer, who raped four girls and sexually violated another when they were all 15. Deputy Solicitor-General Madeleine Laracy filed the appeal, which Crown solicitor Anna Pollett said is ‘‘usual’’ in Crown appeals against sentences. The appeal is scheduled for a nominal date of October 22 in the High Court at Rotorua, an officer of the court confirmed to Stuff. Pollett was the Crown prosecutor in the case against Meyer, who was originally sentenced in Tauranga in July by Judge Christopher Harding. Public outrage following the perceived leniency of the sentence sparked a series of protests this month in Mount Maunganui, Hamilton, Whanganui, Gisborne and Taupō .